The long-delayed goal of starting to drive my bicycle to work (or really to anywhere) has arrived, as has a picture to prove it. Behold the wonder of my very own wheels: the stickers of roses and a wolf along the sleek grey frame. The bell to safely announce my presence at neighborhood intersections. The single gear. And last but not least, the pink rainproof zippered basket cover. I know, you wish you could own such a beauty. If you come to Cambodia I may even let you ride her...
But seriously: biking is rocking my world. I've realized that to be here more fully, to gain a sense of mastery and movement within my world, I can't keep seeing life here from the back of a motorcycle, more or less like a tourist watching it all fly by. I need to be able to drive slower. To stop and explore random shops. I need to take new routes, learn new streets, get lost and find my way with a map. I need to be able to run multiple errands and not have to pay a driver while he waits for me to grab soy milk at the grocery. I will miss my daily rides to work with the 2 lovely moto dop drivers on my street corner, and with my tendency towards lateness I'm sure they haven't seen the last of me...
It's taken 4 months to overcome my mental block/fear of how close everyone drives, and how there are multiple lanes of oncoming traffic all over the road, and how wobbly my bike feels with a heavy basket in the front... but I'm getting it. And I'm LOVING it! It clears my head, wakes me up, and gets my blood flowing. It's like getting a pair of wings, starting a new chapter, turning over a new leaf or any other assortment of cliche' word pictures that portray independence and growth and change. I love my riding my bike. She's won me over. :)
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